GB1405002A - Automatic telephone answering apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1405002 Telephone answering machines PIONEER ELECTRONIC CORP 25 Aug 1972 [4 Sept 1971] 39761/72 Heading H4K An answering machine circuit arrangement includes two timing circuits, one of which is arranged to produce a signal for a specific period from the time of receipt of the call and a second of which is arranged to produce a second signal a given time interval after the commencement of the specific period, the second signal being used to switch a signal sensing device responsive to the recepit of a preselected signal from a caller, from the line and to start the playback and recording mechanism of the machine. Receipt of the preselected signal during said time interval causes a special tape message to be transmitted to the caller. In operation a starting circuit 2 operates in response to ringing current to energize a first timing circuit 3 within 3-10 sees., this timing circuit producing an output which operates a relay Y1, for a period which governs the operating time of the machine. This relay causes the line 1 to be connected through to signal sensing device 6. A short given time interval later (2-3 sees.) timing circuit 4 produces an output which operates relay Y2 to disconnect the line 1 from the signal sensing device 6. Contacts of the relay Y2 also cause the motor for driving a reply message tape to be energized whereby a prerecorded message is transmitted to the caller in known manner. One of two messages prerecorded on different tracks of the same tape (shown as two separate tapes T1, T2) can be transmitted depending on whether the preselected signal is received by the sensing device 6 during the given time interval between the energisation of relays Y1 and Y2. If no such signal is received a general message contained on tape track T1 is transmitted via head H1. If the signal has been received relay Y4 is operated by the sensing device 6 and a special particular message contained on tape track T2 is transmitted via head H2. At the end of either message, stop foil causes the tape loop containing tracks T1, T2 to stop and a second tape containing track T3 is started for recording a message from the caller. In an alternative arrangement the tracks T1, T2 may be recorded on separate tape loops and a separate motor used for each tape loop. The preselected signal may be provided by means of a whistle or may be a spoken sound of high volume level.